Waterford Board approves multiple budget transfers, awards $162,214 fire‑alerting contract and names EDC alternate

First Selectman Robert Brule and two fellow selectmen met July 7 and approved a batch of budget transfers and contract actions, including a $162,214.27 award for a fire‑alerting system at Oswegatchie and the appointment of John Bairos to the Economic Development Commission.

The board voted 3-0 to approve an FY26 out‑of‑series transfer of $50,000 requested by Chief of Police David Ferland to cover an ongoing deficit in the animal control budget; the transfer will be forwarded to the Board of Finance. Director of Fire Services Chris Haley secured an additional appropriation of $45,233.43 to Line #10123‑51210 to cover a contractual payout of accrued time off; that item also was approved unanimously and will be forwarded to the Board of Finance.

On the Oswegatchie Fire Alerting System, Haley recommended awarding the contract to US Digital Designs by Honeywell through cooperative purchasing for a total of $162,214.27. A motion to table the contract failed; the board then voted to award the contract. The minutes record multiple roll calls for the contract motion; the final recorded tally shows the award approved by a 2-1 vote (Brule and Muckle in favor, Attanasio opposed).

Kim Allen, the town’s director of finance, presented several transfers. The board approved a FY26 out‑of‑series transfer of $261,744 to cover costs including training for new hires, increased ADP processing fees, new grants‑management software, contractual obligations for GGA staff, higher phone and fuel costs, life insurance changes and overtime tied to blizzard cleanup (3-0). The board also approved a FY27 out‑of‑series transfer of $66,062 for automotive repairs and maintenance (3-0) and a FY26 out‑of‑series transfer of $56,000 to cover increased shifts at Quaker Hill Fire Station and related FICA and overtime (3-0).

Two in‑series transfers brought additional amendments on the floor. An item initially listed as a $3,000 transfer to cover an employee complaint filed with the Connecticut Department of Labor was amended during the meeting to $25,000 and ultimately approved; the meeting minutes record several motions and roll calls for this item, with the final recorded vote showing the measure passed 2-1 (Attanasio opposed). A separate retiree benefits/reimbursements transfer that had been listed as $25,000 was amended to $3,000 on the floor and approved unanimously.

Human Services Administrator Dani Gorman secured an FY26 in‑series transfer of $25,900 to correct hours that had been charged to a special revenue account; that transfer passed 3-0 and will be forwarded to the Board of Finance.

First Selectman Robert Brule appointed John Bairos (D) to the Economic Development Commission as an alternate to fill a term running from Sept. 1, 2024, through Aug. 31, 2028; the appointment is recorded on the agenda. Emergency Management Director Steve Sinagra delivered a brief storm update; no formal action was taken on that item.

The board approved the consent agenda, including a tax refund and the regular meeting minutes for June 2 and June 23, 2026. The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Police: FY26 out‑of‑series transfer, $50,000 (animal control deficit) — Passed 3-0; forwarded to Board of Finance - Fire Services: Additional appropriation $45,233.43 (employee payout) — Passed 3-0; forwarded to Board of Finance - Oswegatchie Fire Alerting System contract to US Digital Designs by Honeywell, $162,214.27 — Passed (final recorded vote 2-1; motion to table failed 1-2 earlier) - Youth & Family Services: FY26 in‑series transfer $25,900 — Passed 3-0; forwarded to Board of Finance - Finance (employee complaint): In‑series transfer amended to $25,000 — Approved (final recorded vote 2-1; multiple motions/amendments in minutes) - Finance (retiree benefits): In‑series transfer amended to $3,000 — Passed 3-0 - Operations: FY26 out‑of‑series transfer $261,744 — Passed 3-0; forwarded to Board of Finance - Automotive repairs FY27 out‑of‑series transfer $66,062 — Passed 3-0; forwarded to Board of Finance - Quaker Hill Fire Station FY26 out‑of‑series transfer $56,000 — Passed 3-0; forwarded to Board of Finance - Appointment: John Bairos to Economic Development Commission (alternate) — Appointed (recorded on agenda)

Clarifying details noted in the minutes include line number references for the fire payout (Line #10123‑51210) and a procedural note on the agenda that the check register is to be signed by the Board in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes § 7‑83. The minutes record several sequential motions and corrections for a small number of items; where the minutes record multiple roll calls, this article reports the final recorded outcome as shown in the meeting record.